HAMBURG, N.Y.  – The Hilbert College Men's Basketball team handled everything that Penn State Behrend threw at them until the final minute of the game as the Lions pulled off an 84-77 AMCC victory over the Hawks.
 
Hilbert scored easily in the open court game or when they organized for high/low passing into the paint, but when Behrend forced them into sets, the Hawks struggled to finish at the rim.
 
Penn State Behrend (7-7) swept the Hawks (6-8) and moved into a two-way tie with La Roche for the 4th/5th place in the league.  Hilbert, with two games remaining on their league schedule, will have to fight to their final game to secure the 6th spot to advance to postseason tournament.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
 
Quran Briggs and Larry Morse carried Hilbert on the scoreboard as the only two players to hit double figure points. 
 
Briggs found his shooting touch tonight, hitting 3-of-3 from deep in the first half and finished with 28 points off 10-of-15 from the floor, and 5-of-7 beyond the arc.  He added three free throws, and four assists in 33 minutes.
 
Morse, after going 6-for-6 in the first half, finished with another impressive performance in the paint, hitting 13-of-17 from the floor.  He paired his team-high 29 points with 12 rebounds to record his 12th double-double of the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Hilbert played with confidence right off the tip, holding onto a two-possession lead through the first five minutes of the game.
• Behrend knotted the score twice and then used an 11-2 run to create separation.
• The Hawks defensive toughness kicked in as they forced the visitors into multiple almost full 30-second empty trips.  In that time frame, Nathan Moore hit a three to start the run which Briggs finished with a deep hit of his own and a three-point play to force a 28-all score.
• Hilbert maintained their composure and stretched their lead to as high as five points with 2:25 left in the half, but Behrend rallied for a 1-point lead at the break.
• Behrend switched up their defense in the second half, exploded out to a 10-point lead three minutes into the period.
• Hilbert ran the floor for scores and clawed their way back to a 52-all score just two minutes later.
• Morse finished an And 1, then Briggs connected on three consecutive triples which forced a Behrend timeout.
• Morse scored an O-Board tipin, and Briggs drilled his fourth 3pointers in a span of three minute which set the 57-52 score.
• The Hawks lost their fire and slipped behind 66-63 at the eight minute mark and then turnovers and missed shots hurt Hilbert down the stretch. 

GAME NOTES 

• Shaheem Ellis (9 points) and Nathan Moore (3) combined for 11 assists, with Moore dishing seven helpers.
• Penn State Behrend's Tommy DiRienzo, the 2024 Preseason Player of the Year pick, become the Lions' All Time Leading Scorer (1,772) when he scored off a driving layup at 7:44 left in the second half.  He led all scorers tonight with 30 points.
• In another evenly played game, statistically, the Hawks held an 11-6 advantage in second chance points, but the Lions got more out of their bench in scoring (18-6).
• Hilbert and Behrend each connected on 31 buckets, but Hilbert attempted two additional shots from the floor.  The Hawks made 6-of-17 beyond the arc while Behrend hit 6-of-19.  The difference came down to free throws, again.  Behrend went to the line 22 times and made 16 while Hilbert attempted 15 freebies and made nine. 

UP NEXT
 
Hilbert returns to the Hafner Recreation Center for their final home game of the 2024-25 season.  The Hawks will host 9-4 Pitt-Greensburg in a 1:00 pm tip.
 
The men's basketball team will honor their six seniors prior to the game.  Please plan on arriving early for the ceremony to celebrate the careers of Austin Boies, Quran Briggs, Shaheem Ellis, Ronnie Lewis, Nathan Moore and Justin Poumpey.